Smart South African Abandoned TVI Express (at least on Facebook)

His "Ayoba TVI Express" Facebook wall wasn't updated since February 2011, which really says it all!

NEWSFLASH: Lesotho warns Public AGAIN: TVI Express is an illegal scam

Central Bank of Lesotho found out that when you warn scammers, they ignore the warnings. Sunday Express newspaper of Lesotho reports:

CBL warns public against TVI Express

Caswell Tlali

MASERU — The Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL) has again warned the public against investing their monies in a pyramid scheme operated by Travel Ventures International (TVI) Express.
TVI Express is under criminal investigations in a number of countries.
The central bank’s warning comes two months after it issued a similar warning urging the public not to invest their monies in the scheme.
In a statement last week, the CBL said TVI Express was “operating in Lesotho in violation of the law”.
“The activities of this scheme resemble those of selling and marketing pyramid schemes as defined in Section 2 of the Financial Institutions Act, 1999, in terms of receiving funds from the public,” the bank said.
“The Central Bank of Lesotho would also like to caution all promoters of TVI Express, including persons who attempt to recruit others, either by word-of-mouth or via spamming email messages to join these schemes, anywhere in Lesotho, to stop such practices immediately.”
The CBL said TVI Express business operations place substantial emphasis on recruitment of participants.
“In this respect, the scheme offers lucrative incentives to the participants, calculated primarily on the basis of the number of participants or members that have been recruited into it,” said the bank.
“It is evident that these recruitment-based incentives serve as a bait to attract potential participants into joining the scheme, with the prospect of making easy money by recruiting others.
“In the whole, selling of purported products or services is a small component of the business model in the scheme and therefore designed to defraud members of the public,” the bank added.
CBL spokesperson, Thato Mohasoa, told the Sunday Express last month that TVI Express was not registered with the central bank as required under law.
Mohasoa however said he did not wish to comment beyond what had been stated in the statement.
He was however adamant that TVI Express was operating a fraudulent scheme and was fleecing people.
“I stick by our official statement that promoters of this business and those who are recruiting others to join it are breaking the law,” Mohasoa said.
Prospective investors are required to pay M2 700 as membership fee.
Investigations by the Sunday Express have revealed that TVI Express did not have offices in Lesotho.
The company also does not appear in the register of companies at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
It also does not appear at the registrar of sole proprietary or partnership businesses.
It also does not appear in the list of cooperative societies and register of friendly associations.

http://sundayexpress.co.ls/?p=5591

Tarun Trikha is now a confirmed plagiarist, in addition to scammer

Tarun Trikha sure had an interesting life thus far. South Africa called him "leader of 1 billion Rand scam", living the big life in suburbs of India, allegedly has his own corporate jet flying all over the world promoting his scam, TVI Express, and insinuate he's part owner in a new Indonesia airline to his followers.

So what's his website like? Full of plagiarized articles, unfortunately. See for yourself:

Looks pretty professionally written, right? That's because it is... by someone else:

They didn't change a SINGLE WORD. And the link at EzineArticles.com confirms this article had been online since May 2010.

Which proves beyond a doubt that Tarun Trikha is a plagiarist, in addition to being a scammer.

But then, I've proven before that most of his "expert watch" section on TVI Express website was stolen from a book by Randy Gage. So this is not a surprise to me at all.

A leopard can't change his spots, and a scammer can't stop scamming.

"Shine" is back with more bull**** explanations

"Shine", with an IP address that traced to Saudi Arabia, is back with more moronic comments, where he replies to questions about the legitimacy of TVI Express with "just look at our website".

The only proof that "Shine" have of ethical practice is "look at TVI Express website".

Anybody can write anything on a website. Didn't the entire world got punked when someone put up a website that claimed Internet Explorer users have lower IQ? That turned out to be a hoax. Website in itself is no proof.

Furthermore, TVI Express has been long documented to be a liar and obfuscator when it comes to "truth".

• Its owner was NEVER explained. 
• It removed its own claim that it is "headquartered in London, UK" with no explanation
• It never could explain why its office in UK and Cyprus are at addresses of virtual offices. 
• It cannot explain the "cease and desist" given to it in the US 
• It cannot explain why it was charged as pyramid scheme in Australia, 
• It cannot explain why its members were arrested in South Africa, 
• It cannot explain why its headquarters was raided in India by police
• It cannot explain why its business license was revoked in Indonesia, 
• and so on and so forth.

And you expect people to believe TVI Express actually has ethical conduct? Is it ethical to ignore all these problems and concerns?

The "stealing dreams" comment is even more inane, because in a pyramid scheme, in order to have your dream, you have to steal 200+ other people's dreams. (15 person pyramid, 2 of them, comes out to be 225, minus yourself, so 224 people, less if one or more buys multiple memberships) And to achieve their own dreams, they each have to steal 224 more people's dreams.

That's the scam part about pyramid schemes... instead of they scamming 200+ people, they have YOU scamming 200+ people. And because they're in India, when police come, they will come after YOU, not TVI Express. Police can't get to TVI Express, but they can get to you.

Furthermore, MLM and pyramid scheme are outlawed by Islam, and Indonesian Islamic Council on Ache already declared TVI Express a scam.

I suspect "shine" here is a foreign worker or immigrant to Saudi Arabia, probably from Philippines or Indonesia. Does Saudi Arabia still institute caning for haram practices, such as scamming people out of money?

Bangladeshi TVI Express Rep confess to pyramid scheme in public

Following comment appeared in my hub, and my reply will be highlighted in RED. Apparently, this Alamin guy joined Hubpages just to post comments on my hub (3 hours ago, which is just before midnight here on Pacific Daylight Savings Time.

Hi, I am alamin . a member of tvi express .I am from Bangladesh.
Welcome
I have joined here 17 dec 2010 & have become international diamond & being president .so far Company is giving all the money in right time . 
Good for you. Many other people can't say the same about getting paid. 
i see u have passed a lots of time in proving tvi scam .
Since end of 2009
After reading ur hub i want to know if u r too much sure about tvi scam then why u r not coming in day light . 
Because, again, my identity is not relevant to the issue. My information and analysis stands on their own. I am not using my reputation and expertise to justify my position. 
u r only supplying true information about being scam of tvi .. but u answer me if u r trying to make people careful about tvi then u need to clearify u first . 
Why should I clarify "myself" in order to make people more careful about TVI? What does it add to the argument? 
tvi has launched in 2009& still continuing . 
And this is relevant how? Bernard Madoff's ponzi scheme lasted over a decade. Age means nothing. 
it's true that they didn't keep promise in due time but keep though in late . thinkn about opening office in phillipines + south africa .. now they are saying they will open office here (bangladesh ) since feb 2011. & till now they r saying . but they will open in upcoming 2 or 3 weeks . because their work is slow. that does not mean they will not open .. 
I never did say they won't open their office in Bangladesh. I said they would be STUPID to open an office in South Africa after local government already declared it ILLEGAL back in December 2010! Thus either the announcement is bogus, or TVI Express is completely out of touch with reality. Which is more likely?  
as per as other mlm companies in bangladesh did not offer a good compensation plan like tvi ... 
And why is this relevant? 
and as i have said i have broken 8 Eb Boards of my own By only referring 516 people by all team members ....the money i have got from Tvi totally changed my life .though its a pyramid scheme but it has been divided by 7 people so its easy . 
So you admit to participating in a pyramid scheme, which is illegal, and it changed your life. Congratulations, your confession to being a criminal is now public.  
& i also want to say that a lots of members of my team has gone to a lots of hotel & enjoy their hotel packages by giving only the Vat ..
So your people did NOT pay the extra $150USD as per announcement of TVI Express per June 2010? The announcement was very clear that you need to deposit additional funds into a separate 'redemption eWallet', and existing eWallet funds cannot be used. Perhaps TVI Express need to explain why it did not charge you when it says it should. Why ask me? I only quoted from TVI Express announcement. 
So tell me . if i can get all the promises things from Tvi then why sould u say it extra charges. 
Again, it was a TVI Express announcement dated June 2010. If it had been rescinded since, show me the announcement. Your "personal" experience counts somewhat, but unless you find me an official announcement per TVI Express that says "previously announced charges no longer applies" or something similar, I have to assume the charges still exist (or TVI Express is a liar). 
Furthermore, having some promises fulfilled does NOT make TVI Express any less of a pyramid scheme, which you already confessed to. 
a lots of points u have added in u r hub .... if i want to give all answer than it will take a lots of time .. yeah some points are true ,,,,,, but want to say that the sun itself has dark side that does not mean the whole sun is dark ....... 
You, Alamin, failed to recognize that 1) pyramid scheme is fraud, and thus illegal  2) you just confessed to it  3) having additional benefits does NOT excuse the fraud or somehow turn fraud into legitimate business.
Your entire message can be summed up in one sentence: yes, TVI Express is a fraud, but look at the bright side: I got a trip out of it, and so much cash that it changed my life! 
That's not a refutation, but a confession and plea for clemency. 
so friend hope that it will be taken friendly
I am friendly unless people are hostile toward me. Thus far, you have not yet insulted me outright. And your confession to a crime counts for a lot. 

Moron Claims TVI Express Success AFTER Members Got Arrested

In the past weeks some TVI Express supporters continue to pass "good news" from TVI Express like a parrot. One of them is Suranga, who has a blog called SurangaAgency.blogspot.com

According to domain reg, iearnonlinemoney.info is registered to a Sarath Suranga, who lives in Dubai, UAE.

Clearly, Suranga, being in Dubai, wouldn't know or even CARE that members of TVI Express had been arrested in South Africa back in MAY 2011 for running a pyramid scheme, and South African authorities have declared it illegal back in DECEMBER 2010!

Irvin Shirindzi lead away by police
after being arrested for running
TVI Express pyramid scheme
 in Limpopo South Africa
(photo from Observer.co.za)

From this you can gather a few observations:

1) TVI Express continues to announce "good news" about South Africa despite news of arrest back in April and May. Either they are the most incompetent company in the world, or they are intentionally ignoring the situation in South Africa.

2) TVI Express supporters are the same way: continue to parrot the "good news" without verification in any way, shape, or form.

And one last item of hilarity: This is the "banner" on Suranga's website, which presumably came from TVI Express:

It is clear all these are simply stock photo unrelated to TVI Express. What's really hilarious is the guy in lower left with the Vuvuzela... Look carefully on that TVI Express logo

THE LOGO DOES NOT MATCH THE CREASE ON THE T-SHIRT

It was clearly "PhotoShop'ed" (tm)

That tells you TVI Express releases pictures that can't be trusted either.

And Suranga... You are a parrot.

Image by Ed7 via Flickr

NEWSFLASH: Namibia is aware of TVI Express still operating in the country

New Era newspaper reports:  ( http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40124&title=BoN%20warns%20against%20TVI )

BoN warns against TVI Express

WINDHOEK – Bank of Namibia maintains its position that the popular Travel Venture International (TVI) Express is a pyramid scheme, and would be forced to go after those engaged in the scheme, since it contravenes Namibian banking laws.

However, the Namibian chapter of TVI Express continues operations and the members say changes have been made to conform to “African laws”. These changes should satisfy the concerns expressed by the central bank. 

South Africa’s central bank has also launched an investigation into the activities of TVI Express, but according to Namibia’s head of TVI Express, Magnus Nangombe, the investigation appears to be “an agenda, and issue driven by consumer watch [bodies]”, who are not in favour of the TVI Express business model.  

The South Africa Reserve Bank says Nangombe had never had a problem with TVI Express before until the renewed agenda from consumer watch bodies.  

Ironically, the Bank of Namibia is under the impression that TVI Express is no longer active in the country since the bank issued statements last year, for people to desist from engaging in TVI Express activities. 
It now warns that the Act sets clear procedures on how to take the TVI case further, referring to legal action, if the persons involved failed to repay the monies taken from the public.  

“Should the bank find that TVI Express failed to adhere to the directives given to them earlier; this will leave the bank with little option but to invoke the provisions of the law and institute legal action,” said Bank of Namibia in response to questions from New Era.  

Nangombe says they have “restructured TVI activities to operate according to the continent, with director for TVI Africa sitting in Johannesburg”.  

“There are many changes made and we in Namibia would also check what changes are needed,” he said adding that they are “not afraid” of the agendas that would meet them in a bid to stop TVI Express operations, neither does he foresee any problem once the changes are announced.  

According to information obtained by New Era, the changes made revolve around redefinition of terms involving the taking of money from the public.  

The South African Reserve Bank is conducting investigations into TVI Express activities, and media reports suggest that an estimated 100 000 South Africans have invested in TVI Express, and more than N$144 million in cash transactions and investments have been identified thus far.  

TVI Express members in Namibia are estimated at about 3 000 people. TVI Express is banned in China, USA, Britain, Australia, while Swaziland has also issued a warning asking the company not to operate in their country.

Typical scam excuse: they don't understand us, we're so new, so they're afraid of us, and they want to ban us.

Related articles

• Archive revealed sad signs of denial in Africa (kschang.blogspot.com)
• Botswana Consumer Watchdog reminds authorities TVI Express still NOT outlawed in that country (kschang.blogspot.com)
• South African Police admit some members were tricked into joining (kschang.blogspot.com)
• NEWSFLASH: South African News Named Tarun Trikha as head of TVI Express Scam (kschang.blogspot.com)
• NEWSFLASH: Botswana TVI Express recruiter/victim admits guilt of recruiting others (kschang.blogspot.com)

NEWSFLASH: South African Police admit some members were tricked into joining

NEWSTimes of South Africa reports that some South African police members were indeed tricked into joining.  Tarun Trikha even previously claimed that he had many police on TVI Express member list. Well, these cops are saying they got tricked, and they want justice.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/news/2011/08/14/promises-broken-claim-cops

Promises broken, claim cops

BONGANI MTHETHWA | 14 August, 2011 03:34

Image by: Elvis Ntombela

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Police in KwaZulu-Natal claim to have lost thousands after investing in an alleged pyramid scheme now being investigated by the Reserve Bank.

Some policemen, including senior officers, and Hawks members invested their life savings, while others took out loans to pump into Travel Ventures International (TVI) Express.

Last week, the Sunday Times revealed that the company, owned by Indian businessman Tarun Trikha, 27, was being investigated in Australia, the US, UK and China for violating consumer protection laws.

It has been established that investors, including members of the police, were promised:

• Sizeable returns on investments and membership fees within eight weeks;
• A free holiday accommodation voucher for a three- to five-star lodge or resort anywhere in the world for seven nights; and
• Lifetime access to a portal where they are able to book discounted accommodation.

Lawyers acting for TVI Express's local operation this week denied it was a pyramid scheme, saying it was "a multi-level network marketing company that sells holiday packages, products and vouchers".

But several officers, interviewed on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals by management, said TVI Express did not deliver on its promises.

According to local auditors and investigators, investors in TVI Express pay a minimum "membership fee" of R2700. They then receive a "travel voucher", as well as the opportunity to receive commission for recruiting other investors.

Part of the probe by SA investigators is to determine if TVI Express is operating in contravention of the Banks Act of 1990. This week, TVI Express representative Wilson Jabulani Zulu, through his lawyers, Phukubje Pierce Masithela Attorneys, denied the operation was a pyramid scheme.

"It should be placed on record that our client denies that it is a scam and contends that it adheres to fair business practices," said the attorneys.

"(It) is not an investment company, but a multi-level network marketing company which sells holiday packages, products and vouchers to its distributors and, as result, was not obliged to comply with the provisions of the Banks Act of 1990."

But an officer of the Hawks, based in Richards Bay, said he and eight of his colleagues had paid R21600 into the scheme in September - and didn't receive their vouchers or the promised financial returns.

"It was agreed that we would get R108000 in return by a TVI representative, but, up to now, we have not received a cent," said the lieutenant.

A captain at Durban Central police station said he and dozens of colleagues had been lured with "promises of quick riches". He said he had invested R21000 in October and that he and colleagues were promised a R108 000 return in eight weeks.

He later received text messages notifying him that he had successfully joined TVI Express, as well as a " registration account " number. He has yet to receive either a voucher or the money promised to him.

Brigadier Makhosazana Shembe-Dotwana, head of inspectorate in KwaZulu-Natal, admitted that she had recommended TVI Express to some of her colleagues. She denied she was a representative of the company and had made "unfulfilled promises" to colleagues.

On Friday, Zulu, one of the directors of TVI Express's SA operations, said he was aware that some employees had misrepresented the company.

" But since the launch of TVI Express three years ago, we never said people would get money after eight weeks or any time, for that matter."

KwaZulu-Natal police spokes-man Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Mdunge confirmed that stations in the province had been inundated with complaints by the public about TVI Express' operations.

Asked how many cops had invested, Mdunge said: "We don't have the figures."

mthethwab@sundaytimes.co.za

Related articles

• NEWSFLASH: South African News Named Tarun Trikha as head of TVI Express Scam (kschang.blogspot.com)

Consumer Watch Botswana Did Radio Show on TVI Express, still no proof of legitimacy

http://consumerwatchdogbw.blogspot.com/2011/08/on-air-with-tvi-express.html

I had a very amusing experience on radio this morning. After last week's coverage of the TVI Express pyramid scheme, when I reported on it being illegal in Namibia, Georgia, Indonesia and under aggressive investigation in South Africa and Australia, some of the local TVI Express people were very cross indeed and demanded a right of reply.

So they got one this morning. However given that what I'd said was entirely true, their right of reply wasn't unconditional. I was there this morning to respond to some of their comments. 

They genuinely seemed confused about what they wanted to say. They described themselves at various points as "investors"and then "not investors", "employees", "directors", "distributors" and "members" of TVI Express. 

At one point one fo them said that the Bank of Namibia was considering changing their ban in Namibia but changed the subject quickly when two of us pointed out that we'd contacted the Bank who had denied any such thing...

Related articles

• Botswana Consumer Watchdog reminds authorities TVI Express still NOT outlawed in that country (kschang.blogspot.com)
• TVI Express Indonesia members still in denial about BKPM ruling (kschang.blogspot.com)
• NEWSFLASH: Botswana TVI Express recruiter/victim admits guilt of recruiting others (kschang.blogspot.com)
• Archive revealed sad signs of denial in Africa (kschang.blogspot.com)
• NEWSFLASH: South African News Named Tarun Trikha as head of TVI Express Scam (kschang.blogspot.com)

NEWSFLASH: South African News Named Tarun Trikha as head of TVI Express Scam

http://www.timeslive.co.za/world/2011/08/07/worldwide-probe-into-r1bn-scheme

Worldwide probe into R1bn scheme

BONGANI MTHETHWA | 07 August, 2011 03:00

A poster for an appearance by Tarun Trikha in Manila

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A high-flying 27-year-old Indian tycoon is behind an alleged pyramid scheme that the Reserve Bank and state-appointed forensic auditors say has amassed over R1-billion in just two years.

And, according to government investigators in the US, UK and China, Tarun Trikha's company, Travel Ventures International (TVI) Express, is worth at least $2-billion (R13.8-billion) worldwide.

Trikha lives in New Delhi and built his "billion-dollar success story" in just two years. He travels to over a dozen countries a month in his private jet punting his scheme. He claims to have recruited more than a million members globally.

According to local auditors, investors are required to pay a minimum "membership fee" of R2700. Then they receive a "travel voucher" - which is worth virtually nothing in some instances - and the opportunity to receive commission for recruiting other investors.

At least 100000 South Africans have invested in the scheme.

Attorneys and forensic investigators appointed by the Reserve Bank said they were dumbfounded by the scale of the scheme.

Johannesburg lawyer John Kruger described the probe as "an enormous job".

"We ultimately need to interview every single one of the investors. It's going to take a while," he said.

The SA team of investigators are also being asked to determine whether TVI Express is operating in contravention of the Banks Act of 1990.

Ironically, Trikha was this week awarded a licence by the Indonesian government to operate a commercial airline, Pacific Royale Airways - despite the fact that the US, UK, Chinese and Australian governments have barred him from operating TVI Express in their countries.

After interviewing investigators across the globe and in South Africa, as well as former representatives of TVI Express, the Sunday Times has established that:

• TVI Express has more than 50000 members in SA;
• Twenty-three different South African bank accounts, associated or linked to TVI Express, have been uncovered by investigators to-date;
• More then R144-million worth of cash transactions and investments have been identified through the bank accounts and paper work. The investigators say they expect the figure to increase quite significantly in the course of the investigation;
• On average, investors paid between R2700 and R21600 into the scheme;
• Returns for those who invested at the beginning of the scheme were paid out, with some receiving as much as R108000;
• An estimated 70000 people visit the company's website daily;
• TVI Express is under investigation for violating consumer protection laws in Britain, China and other parts of Asia; and
• The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the country's consumer protection watchdog, has banned all TVI Express operations.

The ACCC, in fact, recently won a judgment in the Australian Supreme Court prohibiting TVI Express from operating in Australia and is still investigating the company for other contraventions.

This week, ACCC spokesman Brent Rebecca said he was not at liberty to "discuss our investigations with the media".

An investigation by Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper found that the company had recruited more than 5000 members in Australia since 2009 and more than 600000 worldwide.

In the US, TVI Express was recently served a cease-and-desist order that compels a company to stop doing business or face legal action.

Patrick Crosby, a spokesman for the US state attorney's office, could not be reached for comment despite several attempts.

Responding to questions from the Sunday Times, Trikha denied that he was operating an illegal pyramid scheme.

"Have you ever seen a pyramid scheme that lasted for three years ... because TVI Express has been around since January 2009 and it's expanding throughout the globe?" he said.

Trikha, who lists his permanent address as a luxury building in New Dehli's posh Karol Bagh suburb, said he was unaware that his company was being investigated in SA.

"We are not aware ... and TVI Express is more than willing to co-operate."

He added: "To show that we are conducting a legit business, some members (and investors) are in the SA Police Service."

Trikha has visited SA several times. He said his company did not have offices in the country and, instead, operated through the internet.

This week, Tempo Interactive, a business journal in Indonesia, reported that Pacific Royale Airways, which has acquired a fleet of 10 aircraft, had been given the go-ahead to operate between India and Indonesia.

Trikha's Twitter account makes several references to the airline.

On March 14, he tweeted: "Looking for a good slogan for Pacific Royale Airways. Send me your suggestions."

Trikha's TVI Express, the cash cow in his empire, is described on its website as a "billion-dollar success story".

----====----====----====----====----====

There are a couple mistakes but nothing too serious.

a) It's been pretty well proven that there is NO proven link between TVI Express and Pacific Royale Airways (other than one of the Indonesian owners have a very similar name, and some of the investors are from India).

b) Now that PT TVI Express Indonesia has been outlawed, what are the chances of Goenani Goenawan actually ponying up the $$$ for the 10 planes the airline will need?

c) The newspaper didn't call Tarun Trikha a liar. It's proven that he knew of TVI Express problems in South Africa. He's playing dumb. He also tried to claim a 3-year old company can't be a pyramid, clearly ignoring Bernard Madoff's 20-year old scam.

Overall, one of the best reports on TVI Express available, actually (except what you get here, that is, and I really do mean it)

Related articles

• NEWSFLASH: First arrest of TVI Express Fraudsters in Indonesia (kschang.blogspot.com)
• NEWSFLASH: TVI Express claims being declared ILLEGAL by BMPK is a "complication" (kschang.blogspot.com)
• NEWSFLASH: Botswana TVI Express recruiter/victim admits guilt of recruiting others (kschang.blogspot.com)